The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series is the highest level of professional bass fishing tournaments. Competitors must qualify for the series through the Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens or the B.A.S.S. Nation, and anglers who are already on the Elite Series must re-qualify each year by maintaining enough points throughout the season. The pro anglers compete all season for the opportunity to win points toward the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.
The series was founded in 2006. Its predecessors were the Bassmaster Tour, Top 150 and Top 100.
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Offseason activities and the importance of pre-practice
One of my favorite offseason activities is hunting, and I’ll be spending a lot of the coming weeks in a tree stand. I hunt a lot around my home in...
Day on the Lake: Gerald Swindle
DOTL Challenge: Put a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro on his home lake for a cold midwinter pre-practice session while we log every move.
So much to be thankful for
In the month of November, we often share our thoughts on what we’re thankful for. Looking back over the 2026 fishing season, I can definitely list several moments and achievements...
Schmitt’s urchin setup
Find out how experienced Elite Bryan Schmitt rigs up his urchin bait for tournament competition.
Back to my western roots
When the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series concludes in August, that doesn’t mean my tournament schedule is over. Actually, I typically fish several more events each year. By mid-October, I had...
Do-Overs: Gustafson’s delayed adjustment limits Lake Fork debut
Clichéd, but accurate, hindsight typically does offer the mental clarity comparable to perfect 20/20 vision. Seeing is one thing; learning, improving, growing from mistakes and misjudgments — that’s what makes us better. Here’s an example from Jeff Gustafson.
Excited to get back to fishing
It’s mid-October as I write this, and I haven’t made a single cast since fishing the final Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series tournament of the year at the St. Lawrence River....
Fishing meets supercross
I just attended one of the most exciting competitions I’ve been to with Monster Energy. The event, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Supercross Final, took place at the Thunder Ridge...
How I fish the seasonal transition
Fall is a fun time of year for me, and not only because of football season. This time of year, the Tennessee River offers amazing fishing opportunities. I think this...
An offseason African odyssey
In order to celebrate our 10th anniversary and my 50th birthday, my wife Jennifer and I journeyed to South Africa to hunt a variety of species just a few weeks after the...
Inside Elite Boats: Brandon Palaniuk
Take a tour of Brandon Palaniuk's Skeeter FXR from the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season!
My Finest Hour: Disaster turns to triumph for Lee
While Bassmaster Elite pros strive for excellence throughout each event, the right combination of variables occasionally align to create the opportunity for superlative performance. Success hinges on seizing the moment, rising to the occasion and turning in a truly memorable performance. Here’s an example from Jordan Lee.
Northern fishing best in the fall
Since 2000, I’ve been spending most of the year in the South and returning to my hometown of Grand Rapids, Minn., in the last couple months of the year. I...
